"... then we'll make it through!"

Boris Rupert reporting from Lisbon

"It will be extremely complicated," said Thomas Tuchel, whose side now face a tough task in the return leg after suffering defeat and failing to get that all-important away goal in Portugal. "But that's exactly what return legs are for," continued the coach. "We believe we can get a result." A result that would take Borussia Dortmund through to the last 16. It would be deserved, highly deserved even, it they could make it through after 180 or even 210 minutes against Portugal's reigning champions and current table-toppers.

"We put in an extraordinarily good performance, were dominant, controlled every single area of the pitch, had clear-cut chances to score and only gave the opponents one opportunity of their own, following a corner. I am extremely satisfied with the performance my team have delivered. It was an extraordinarily good display," declared Thomas Tuchel in the aftermath of a result that belied the visitors' dominance. "Only in football is it possible to be dominated like that and still win."

His team created nine clear-cut chances away to Benfica, but 23-year-old shot-stopper Ederson, an outstanding talent who came through the ranks at the Portuguese capital club, would not be beaten. The young custodian pulled off a string of superb saves. There was Pulisic's deflected effort from 18 metres, which was almost unsaveable, while few 'keepers would have kept out Piszczek's strike from distance – and then there was Aubameyang's penalty. Only three goalkeepers in the world have previously denied the Gabon international from the spot.

"An extremely complicated situation for the second leg"

The forward, usually so clinical in front of goal, had endured a tough evening before stepping up to take it. On two occasions, he had fired over from promising positions. Somehow it was clear that he'd hit his spot-kick at a safe height; and somehow it was clear that Ederson stood a good chance of stopping it. But Tuchel justified his decision not to intervene from the sidelines logically: "I will never intervene in the pecking order of the penalty takers. Then I would be putting total pressure on the player I chose."

Now, though, his team find themselves in an "extremely complicated situation for the second leg". They cannot concede (on the counter) and must score (at least) twice themselves. "We're familiar with the maths in European competition," said Tuchel. "There is no option other than showing what we can do with our performance. If we perform at the same level, then we'll make it through!"

Boris Rupert